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Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County

Extension in Buncombe County

Applications Being Accepted for Extension Master GardenerSM Training

April 3, 2021

Do you love to garden and help others in your community garden too? The Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer program in Buncombe County is now accepting applications for initial training this fall. We are looking for individuals who want to serve their community, expand and share their gardening knowledge, and work in a team environment.

Happy Master Gardener volunteers and Extension staff in Buncombe County

To become a certified Extension Master GardenerSM volunteer, individuals accepted into the program are required to complete the 40-hour initial training program, pass an examination, and complete an internship of 40 hours of volunteer service. Additional continuing education (15 hours) and volunteer service to the community (30 hours) are required for annual re-certification.

Training will be held during the day on Tuesdays, August 31 through November 30 and will be a combination of online and in-person sessions. Unfortunately, due to COVID the schedule and other details are still in development.

The application deadline is June 1, 2021.

A training fee of $150 is due upon acceptance into the training program.

More information on the Master Gardener program in Buncombe County, including Frequently Asked Questions and Activities to Fulfill Your Volunteer Requirements, is available on the Buncombe County Extension website.  Click here: Buncombe County Extension website

Download and print an application: 2021 EMG Application and Certification Agreement
2021 Extension Master Gardener Training Schedule—IN DEVELOPMENT

Helping Gardeners Put Knowledge to Work

 

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Categories Events, Extension in Buncombe County

Check-out the Blog—Your Online Resource for Gardening in Buncombe County

April 2, 2020

These days we’re staying at home and staying safe.  And spending more time watching our gardens grow.  Maybe we’re finding places we’d like to add a plant or two.  Or possibly cut back or transplant a few.  Maybe this is the season we’ll pay more attention to the bugs, or the soil, or our plants’ health.

Whatever your gardening interest or need, Buncombe County Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers are here to help—even as we sequester ourselves in our homes and gardens.  Right now, one of the best ways we can help is keeping you informed about our online resources.

The blog, written by our Master Gardener volunteers, is one of those resources available to you.

Do you read our blog?
It’s been around for about four years and provides a wealth of information.  The archives cover a huge variety of topics:  vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs, landscaping ideas, good bugs, bad bugs, plant diseases, lawn care, pruning, seasonal maintenance—and the list goes on.  Many blogs also include online links to horticultural sites where you can find additional information.

Where is the blog located?
You can find the blog on the Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteers of Buncombe County website at https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/.  The most recently published blog shows up on the home page. If you want to receive an email notification each time a new blog is published, you’ll need to sign up.  Click on the “Subscribe” button that appears in the left margin of the page.

How do I use the blog?
Got a specific topic you want to read about?  Look for the “Search” box at the upper right of the website home page.  Type in your topic, for example “soil amendment, pollinator, ground cover, rudbeckia, etc.”, and every blog with those words will be presented on your device screen.  You may have to scroll through several blogs across multiple web pages to find the information you’re looking for.

Another way to find blog topics is to investigate the “Categories” listing.  Scroll down the website home page and you’ll see “Categories” listed in the left margin.  The categories are like a table of contents for all the blog topics.  Click on a category, such as “Integrated Pest Management (IPM)” or “Vegetables & Fruits”, and all associated blogs will appear.  Again, scroll through the blogs to find specific information.

The blogs will show up in the order they were published—the most current blogs appear first.  And don’t forget to look at the end of each blog posting where you may be directed to books and websites with additional information.

What about reliability?
Rest assured, our blog content is fact-based, horticulturally accurate, and up-to-date.  It is closely aligned with scientific research and publications of North Carolina State University Extension or other recognized authorities.  We make every attempt to be sure our gardening recommendations are relevant for the environmental conditions found in Western North Carolina.

We Master Gardeners love gardening and are excited to share our knowledge and experience with you. The blog is one way we can continue to do this, now and in the future.  Check it out.  Expand your gardening know-how and create amazing gardens.

Article written by Beth Leonard, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer.

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Categories Extension in Buncombe County Tags blog

High Density Orchards Advance Apple Growing: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center Tells How

February 26, 2018

Until I talked with Dr. Tom Kon, Southeastern Apple Research Specialist at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center in Mills River, NC, “apple orchard” meant my grandfather’s orchard planted by his great-grandmother in the 19th century. When I was a child in the 1950s, its gracious canopies were producing varieties like ‘Melba,’ ‘Yellow Transparent,’ ‘Macoun,’ and ‘Worthy.’ But today, thanks to Dr. Kon’s research, apple growing has advanced far beyond my memories.

Mtn Horticultural Research & Extension Center_High Density Orchard in Bloom
High density apple orchard in bloom at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center

Dr. Kon spends 80 percent of his time researching new varieties and methods of growing apples and 20 percent of his time on Extension, working closely with North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia apple growers.

The work of Dr. Kon and the Extension Center is especially valuable in our area where apple growing is such an important industry to Western North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Apple Growers Association: “NC ranks seventh in apple production in the United States, has over 200 commercial apple operations comprised of 9,000 bearing acres of apple orchards, and produces up to 4 million bushels of apples in a given year. Apples are produced in four areas of the state around the Henderson, Haywood, Wilkes, and Cleveland [County] areas.”

Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center_Pruning a high density orchard
Pruning a high density apple orchard

An interview with Dr. Kon

Q:  What is the biggest challenge facing apple growers?

A:  One of the greatest challenges our growers face is a growing labor shortage. Apple production requires significant labor inputs throughout the growing season and there are uncertainties regarding reliable access to a legal workforce. As a result, more apple growers are adopting high density orchard systems that lend themselves to mechanization and automation.

Q:  What do you mean by a high-density system?

A:  It means planting a greater number apple trees per acre (about 800 to 1,200). What makes this possible is improved dwarfing rootstocks that have profound effects on tree growth and productivity. As part of a regional rootstock research project, we (Dr. Mike Parker and I) are evaluating the performance of over 30 apple rootstocks at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center here and in Blairsville, Georgia.

Q:  What are the benefits to growers?

A:  Planting a greater number of trees per acre on dwarfing rootstocks results in greater yields in early years, less complex canopy architectures with improved light distribution, improved fruit quality, and improved land use efficiency. Those large, hulking apple trees that your grandfather grew were lovely, but needed 5 years or more before they produced a crop. Dwarf trees can produce a crop in two or three years, depending on the variety. For the apple grower, that means a much quicker return on the investment.

Q:  What kind of investment are you talking about?

A:  Establishment costs of high density orchards are relatively high due to tree number, tree support systems, and irrigation. These inputs can exceed $15,000 per acre. However, many of these costs can be recovered early in the life of the orchard, due to the higher value of early production and improved fruit quality.

Q:  What kind of equipment is used in high density orchards?

A:  Until recently, the major innovation in apple harvest technology occurred when we switched from wooden to metal ladders. Ladders can be dangerous, particularly in an orchard where the ground is uneven. The adoption of high density orchard systems has resulted in the development of labor saving technologies, such as mobile labor platforms, that improve worker safety. Modern orchard systems are compatible with new technologies, reduced use of pesticides, and increased production.

To find out more about the work of Dr. Tom Kon and his team, visit the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center website throughout the year.

Article written by Janet Moore, Extension Master GardenerSM Volunteer.

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Categories Extension in Buncombe County Tags apples, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center

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